A TERRIFIED schoolgirl has been shot in the head - for her mobile phone. Two gunmen pounced on the 15-year-old as she walked along the canal towpath at the back of Droitwich Sports and Leisure Centre.

But the plucky teenager fought back and the pair fled empty-handed.

Tuesday's drama unfolded at 4.45pm as the girl, who is too frightened to be named, walked towards Briar Hill.

She was shot twice from behind, once in the back of the head and once in the hand, with ballbearings fired from a BB gun.

The stunned girl spun round to see two men following her. Her attackers, wearing baseball caps pulled down to disguise their faces, squared up to her and demanded she hand over her phone.

But despite being badly bruised she struggled, punching one of the gunmen in the face, and managed to escape clutching her phone. She ran home and her mother called the police.

Worcester police spokeswoman Fiona Harrison said the teenager could have been badly hurt.

"Although it's a low velocity air weapon, it can cause very serious injury if it's shot at close distance and in the right place. If it had hit her in the eye, she could have been blinded," she said.

"Fortunately, the ballbearings didn't pierce her skin. She was very, very lucky."

Police spokeswoman Vicki Davies added: "Someone must know who went out with this gun."

Investigating officer PC Claire Ryan said the replica gun would have looked realistic.

"The girl has been very frightened by what happened," she added.

The teenager described the gunmen, who had holes in their trainers, as "scruffy". One was 5ft 8in tall, of medium build, wearing a dark blue baseball cap, navy hooded Champion sweatshirt and black jeans.

His accomplice was 5ft 7in tall, of slim build, wearing a green cap, black T-shirt and blue tracksuit trousers with elasticated bottoms.

Witnesses should call PC Ryan on 01905 723888 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.